The Amazon vs. Google feud is escalating

Amazon has over the last few years been pulling Google’s hardware from shelves. Google has now responded by blocking access to YouTube on Amazon’s Echo Show and soon all Fire TV players, according to a report by Variety.

YouTube blocked on Amazon devices

The feud started in earnest in 2015 when Amazon stopped selling the Google Chromecast. In the years since, it has escalated to involve almost all aspects of the two companies’ video products and services.

The latest development is Google’s decision to block access to YouTube on the Amazon Echo Show device. Owners of Amazon Fire TV have also been notified that the Youtube app will cease working on January 1, 2018.

- “We’ve been trying to reach agreement with Amazon to give consumers access to each other’s products and services. But Amazon doesn’t carry Google products like Chromecast and Google Home, doesn’t make Prime Video available for Google Cast users, and last month stopped selling some of Nest’s latest products. Given this lack of reciprocity, we are no longer supporting YouTube on Echo Show and FireTV. We hope we can reach an agreement to resolve these issues soon,” said a Google spokesperson.

Amazon sees things a little differently and argues that Google is selectively blocking access to an open website.

- “Echo Show and Fire TV now display a standard web view of YouTube.com and point customers directly to YouTube’s existing website. Google is setting a disappointing precedent by selectively blocking customer access to an open website. We hope to resolve this with Google as soon as possible,” said Amazon.

The Fire TV devices are based on an operating system forked from Android, which is said to have upset Google.

Amazon has also been disagreeing with Apple over business terms but it appears that the conflict is about to end. The Amazon Video app should launch on Apple TV any day now, after which Amazon is expected to put the Apple TV back on shelves.